On this day in 2016, I published the very first article on this wee blog o’ mine. It is hard to believe that two full years have passed since then. But looking at the calendar, it does indeed seem as if BarleyMania is celebrating its second anniversary today. (more…)
Watching a dram of Bowmore 15 Years Old Darkest sway in the glass is a bit like seeing an immortal icon of tinseltown – like Joseph Cotton or Gregory Peck – on the silver screen. There is something awe-inspiring about it. Something graceful. Something timeless. (more…)
It is said that about 70 per cent of a whisky’s flavor and 100 per cent of its (natural) color come from the cask. When you put a sub-par distillate into top-quality wood, the result will usually be decent at least. But when you fill excellent new make into weak barrels (more…)
The Diageo-owned bourbon brand Bulleit and the Hamburg-based micro-brewery ÜberQuell make a mighty fine pair. I first learned this last November, when I attended the two company’s joint “BBQ, Boilermaker & Bowery” tasting in Hamburg. As the event was a big success (more…)
“Be honest, guys. How many of you would have bought a ticket for tonight’s event if you had known before that we would not actually drink any drams?” – When Whisky Bible author Jim Murray asked his guests this question at the beginning of his Penderyn tasting in Siek (more…)
When we found out that The Macallan would invite the winners of their #ToYourMacallan competition over to their home turf for a full weekend of whisky extravaganza, my girlfriend Dini and I left no stone unturned to produce the best contributions we could. (more…)
Labeled “The Maritime Malt” that was “Born in the Port of Whick”, Old Pulteney is a prime example of a salty, sea-shaped Scotch whisky. And despite the fact that all of the distillery’s bottlings are usually held in high esteem by fans of the afore-mentioned flavor profile (more…)
When a club as illustrious and rich in tradition as The Scotch Malt Whisky Society turns 35, they don’t just bring a box of chocolate to the office and tell their colleagues “Help yourselves.” They celebrate with a whole lotta hoo-ha! (more…)
On several evenings per week, the Fabrik in Hamburg/Altona lends its spacious stage to renowned bands and artists like Chuck Ragan, Fish or Magnum. However, before the curtains open and the decibels rise at the end of the day, the location often hosts food events (more…)
Whisky does not always have to be silken, filigree and beautiful. Sometimes, you do not want to have the often-quoted “liquid sunshine” in your glass, but scratch the bottom of a barrel (figuratively speaking) for a good dose of smut and grime. (more…)
